Ex-NBA Coach Has Harsh Words For Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is one of the NBA's most scrutinized NBA stars. 

Depending on who you talk to, Adebayo is either one of the most versatile players in the league or extremely overrated. It's just the way it is. It's the way it always has been throughout his career. 

You either love him or you don't. It seems like there is no in-between for Adebayo. 

We bring this up because of the recent comments made by longtime NBA and former Heat coach Stan Van Gundy. While speaking on the Zach Lowe podcast Thursday, Van Gundy was asked his thoughts on the Heat. First, he said he was not impressed with the Heat from what he's seen in the preseason. 

Van Gundy said the Heat have struggled on the defense. He also thinks they lack solid play at point guard. While Davion Mitchell is well-liked by Heat fans, he doesn't get much love from a national standpoint. 

Van Gundy, however, did praise Andrew Wiggins, calling him underrated. Most around the league would agree with that claim. 

And then arose the subject of Adebayo. Van Gundy referred to him as a "little overrated." Again, this isn't the former coach taking a shot. He's just giving his honest take. That's what fans want to hear. 

The question here is this: What does Adebayo have to do to break free of this notion? He's dealt with it the past several years despite few players around the league questioning his worth. It's always a coach, an analyst, a fan or someone within the NBA who speaks on the conditioning on anonymity. 

At this point, Adebayo has to be among the most criticized three-time All-Stars the league has seen. He even took heat after his 83-point game last year against the Washington Wizards, which was supposed to stop others from thinking he couldn't score. 

Defense has never been an issue in the past but some are now barely calling him one of the top 25 defenders in the league. It just seems like there is a bigger target on his back for his shortcomings than strength. 

This narrative hit full steam once team president Pat Riley stressed he was willing to make Adebayo the cornerstone of the franchise. That immediately made it open season. And it only grew worse when the Heat were comfortable enough to give up so much young talent this offseason to build around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Adebayo. 

Adebayo will likely continue to be pelted by the naysayers until he proves them wrong. 

Again.